As the world looks on agape at our leaders’ brash bullying tactics, the fight for decency is well under way in our neighborhoods and towns.
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This past week, we saw a president tout the dismantling of the government. We saw a world leader abused on the international stage as his people die. We were told to believe that Ukraine was to blame for its own invasion. We were told to forget what has come before, to believe that we don’t need NATO, USAID, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Education. As the anti-government DOGE storm rages on, we need to hang on to the true narrative for dear life. Here are some small things you can do this week to keep the flickering flame of our democracy alive.
1) Write your congresspeople about the SAVE Act.
I sent a letter to my representative, Kat Cammack (R-FL), through the League of Women Voters about the SAVE Act. This proposed legislation would require a birth certificate, marriage license, or passport every time someone has to re-register to vote (for instance if they change addresses) or every time they register to vote by mail (which we have to do in Florida every time now, so be sure to get that done if you plan to vote by mail next time). It’s particularly a barrier for people who have changed their names. To send your own letter to your congressperson, click here.
I personalized the prefab letter at the end, because my representative signed on to this bill immediately, more than two months ago. A form letter isn’t going to sway her. Certainly not one that supports trans rights. So, I added “Kat, I know you signed onto this bill basically day 1, and I know it’s a Republican priority to safeguard our voting practices. But you know that there is little to no voter fraud. You know that. This just makes it harder for a married woman like me.”
2) Donate to Teresa Borrenpohl.
On February 22, residents came together for a town hall in a high school auditorium in Kootenai County, ID. In the middle of what should have been a serene, safe event, Teresa Borrenpohl objected out loud to her congressperson, who was evading another resident’s question. The response to her comment can be seen here (but keep in mind that it’s fairly violent, so don’t click if that will disturb you.)
In brief, the sheriff of Coeur D’Alene beckoned for her to leave the hall, and she quietly refused. Then three unidentified men came over to force her to leave. She demanded they produce identification, asking if they were deputies. Instead of showing IDs, the men grappled with her, dragging her from her seat while she continued to peacefully resist. They got her on the floor, zip-tied her, and hauled her out of the auditorium. Then they pressed charges against her. Those charges were dropped once the video above went viral.
I donated to Borrenpohl’s GoFundMe to assist her in her legal battle against these men.
The fund was looking for $30,000 for legal fees. It’s currently at $334,430. I donated anyway because Borrenpohl ran for the Idaho House of Representatives in 2020, in 2022, and in 2024, which means she does not give up. She’s been in this for a long time. In a room full of people more than happy to sit by, she powerfully stood up for herself in a moment of dissent… alone. That means she understands the fight and the different ways to do it, and she is in this for justice, not lip service.
This video seems to have gained significant traction in the news cycle.. I’m hoping that means Borrenpohl has the power to rally people around this lightning-rod event. I trust her to use every cent she raises for the good of the nation. Donate here.
3) Listen to experts to get a fundamental understanding of immigration law and the facts on the ground.
I went to a talk at the University of Florida’s law school on immigration law in the state of Florida. If you have a university or college in your area, check out their talks and presentations. A lot of informed activism requires specialized knowledge that we can only get from experts willing to share with concerned citizens and other long-term residents in our communities..
At this talk, led by UF law professor Juan Caballero, I learned that while federal law governs immigration throughout the United States, Republican lawmakers in Florida are introducing bills that challenge the long-standing interpretations of those federal laws. Their plan is to get a case before the Supreme Court that would allow its current anti-immigration majority to overturn 150-year-old precedents, which, in many areas, uphold the rights of migrants to fair treatment before the law.
One thing I have learned is that the interplay between politics and immigration law is bewilderingly complex and that I (and probably you) need to start self-education at a very basic level. I also managed to connect with two groups in our area that I hadn’t known of before: The Rural Women’s Health Network and Children Beyond Our Borders.
Right now, I’m focused on learning how to strengthen existing connections between immigration advocacy groups and how to create new ones where they are needed.
4) Call your Attorney General about 504 plans.
My child has a “504 plan,” a federally supported benefit that gives her extra time to complete exams. This is time that she needs. With it, she can be an A student. Yet Florida is one of 17 states taking part in a lawsuit to end such protections for students with special needs.
I called our state’s Attorney General – at (850) 414-3300 – to ask that Florida withdraw from that lawsuit for the sake of my child and all children with special needs in the state. If you live in one of the following states, call your Attorney General and add your voice in support of special-needs children: Texas, Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.
5) Watch the 50501 activist training.
Do you have an hour and 12 minutes? Or maybe 15 minutes here and 10 minutes there throughout the day? May I recommend this training for would-be activists that you can access on their YouTube page? It’s easily one of the most helpful, enlightening calls I’ve watched thus far.
This group is now officially formed and has the on-the-ground presence that was sorely lacking in many protest actions so far. There are now people ready to help you get started, and their expertise is really useful. Instead of screaming helplessly into the abyss, listen to this training while washing dishes.
I found it on a local 50501 group I learned about through one of the speakers at a rally I recently attended. I contacted her and offered my services, and she got back to me immediately, confirming that they may have a need for those services soon. I look forward to working with them.
6) Participate in economic boycotts.
On February 28, an economic blackout took place, spurred by online organizing. While it started with a libertarian of questionable motives, the movement took on a life of its own, and symbolized a small thing even those not used to organizing or action could do in protest.
I did not shop at Target, Walmart, or Amazon that day. In fact, I did not shop at all. Not everyone can take part in these types of boycotts, but if you can, it does make a difference. Target’s website traffic dropped 9 percent that day. Its app dropped 14 percent. Similarly, Walmart slumped by 5 percent. This one-day blackout didn’t affect Amazon, but there are more sustained boycotts planned for the future which could hit them harder. The money, right now, is what is speaking to power, so let’s use it.
7) Donate to United24.
Watching Donald Trump and JD Vance berate, belittle, and bully Volodymyr Zelenskyy on an international stage was one of the most cringey and heartbreaking things I have seen in years. It outlined how very far we have come from the country I know. How far we have come from the reality we all used to know… the one where Russia invaded Ukraine and the US helped that fledgling democracy defend itself..
I donated to United24, which is an organization set up by Zelenskyy himself to facilitate aid on the ground in specific areas. You can choose defense, medical aid, reconstruction, or education, amid others.
We the people of the United States are sorry for what the vicious Trump administration has done to you, Ukraine. As we continue our fight for decency through “small things,” you are in our thoughts. Empathy – and people everywhere acting in accord with the “better angels” of human nature – may just be what saves us all.
See you all next week.
Past weeks of “One Small Thing” can be found here.
